The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1887-12-22

IL THOUGHT YOU LIKED MARTIIYE'
One long embrace, and one shy, sweet
kiss ratified this silent promise.
Put on that pretty lilac dress, Martie,
Monday morning, and meet me at s
o'clock just beyond the Swayle brook, and
in one hour We will be one, and say moth
ing to anybody. Oh, yes; one other
thing. viii You trust the children to Inc
to bring W: VIII You give them into my
guardianship completely? Answer yes,
without question:
"Nhy certainly. Since ve''-
"An right. Now must really 60, for
there's thousand things to do. You
will he theres' and rs she answered yes,
he caught her plump little form to his
heart again, and kissed her again for
sOodby; and he leaped the fence at Il
bOu'11. and in q few minutes was 1T hOkle
about his ''ci3OrCS, " with u light heart, for
he loved EiGr!ie truly and well, and lie
now saw his way 10 happiness with the
one girl lac loved.
Sunday lie went away IL the morning,
and was gone all day, and only returned
i'll time Cor supper.
After the table was cleared, and Mrs.
IIcmtilill sat down 20 rest, with Il clean
pocket handkerchief folded over her knees,
to save her black silk dress, and Ecr Bible
i'll lcr hands, fer she always held her
Bible thus cvC~y Sunday evening, though
no oGo coGld rcmember ever seeing her
reGd il it, Jabez arose from his scat and
walked Up and down the room in silence.
His mother watched him uncasily.
st last lie spoke:
'Mother, l alIl thinking of getting mar
rie,l."
It was out ut last!
Her fear was well placed, and the shock
was great.
"Mothcr, how would you like Lucinda
R0sencrants for q daughtcr?''
In I'll hex inlaginings She had never let
l!er fancy run rict to an extent that could
have permitted Lucinda Iioscncrants to
enter her head as the possible choice Of
her son.
Pretty enough, but coarse and ieuorant:
daughter Of two idle, dissOlJte parents;
l.zy and slovenly herself. and fond uf
dancing and party going. and al the very
things that Mrs. lEcEphjil adhered, it is
no wonder that She sat pale and shocked
and spcCchless.
OF al the girls that she knew, OF had
ever heard Of, Lucinda was the last one
that size would have chosen, and she cOuiu
not bear it,
"I-I thought You liked Marthy," She
said. TREMENDOUSLY.
Il Go Ike Martha:. but you said SO
much''-
~ rather you'd picked her OUT
''She refused me-
"nefused YOU! l guess you're IS good
as she any time. Any gal ought to be
proud to set YOU"
''Shc did not think so, and her refusal
did not hurt ne long. What do you
think Of I.ucinda?,'
!
give in to your marrying into that awful
family. just think CT what a set they
are, and I.ucinda'n be just the same.
/ There &in't another girl that can hold n
! candle to Martny if it wasn't for them
! there clildren.'
''Shc gave them all away yesterday, I
! heard, 10 a guardian"
''Jabtz, don't You think you could
! change hcr resolution? Ye amt bound to
/ Lucintly. be ye:"
/ You know, mother, I never break my
| word"
! Mrs Hemphill groaned.
| ed ruthcr you had took Marthy
with ten young uns to feed and raise than
Lucindy," and she began to cry, where
upon Jabez hurried off.
| The next morning JabeZ was gone, no
| one knew where, and the whole farm
/ seemed TO want him back; though It was
MONDAY, there was no work done. and
Mr.. and Mrs. Hemphill sat dejectly In the
| 'best ROOM
Father said at last, knocking the
ashes out Of lis pipe:
AZ knowed Saturday that sumpin was
up, but / never guessed what, and I'm
| blamed if AMT sorry for him to 90 and
| take up with that shiftless Lucindy, when
he might n had Marthy, only for youfr
bein' SO sot agin' them poor little young
!! sters; and think AIarthy was a-loin' her
duty. I'm blamed sorry"
''Ir. 1Ienphill, don't swear, and don't
|! say broke Off the match. / never done
nuthin', only Friday / told Marthy my
opinion about it, and she got mad. and
s'rose said something that naddcnesi
.Tabez, for tie next day lie went off. and
[ s'pos> nc asked LCc:udy.